Since pictures are worth more than I can write...

The sound of saws, nail guns, and hammers is all around this week. With a few differnt projects going on. And since pictures, they say, are worth a thousand words, I'll be breif and just post some pictures. Mr. Floyd is here with a crew from Georgia framing up a couple of houses. They began the week framing up the Lizana's house. I tell you this group of guys is pretty amazing. They had the Lizana's house framed up in pretty much 2 - 12 hour days.

They then started on Ms. Bea and James' house. They continue to work hard on their home coming into this weekend.




I am also enjoying the fellowship this week of 3 men from Rolling Hills Church, my home church in Wisconsin. They have been working on building a few sheds here on the property and getting the Quonset Hut ready for sleeping the volunteers in the coming weeks.

Single passion

Continuing my thoughts on John Piper's book "Don't Waste Your Life," I am forced to consider what my single passion is. Piper pleads with his readers to "Desire that you life count for something great! Long for your life to have eternal significance. Want this! Don't coast through life without a passion."

Piper helps us to think about what that passion might be by giving examples of what other people's one passion is. He makes reference to Louie Giglio's statement in the "268 Declaration". The first statement says, "Because I was created by God and for His glory, I will magnify Him as I respond to His great love. My desire is to make knowing and enjoying God the passionate pursuit of my life."

John Piper's passion is basically the mission statement for him and the church he serves. "We exist to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all the things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ."

The apostle Paul's one passion: "I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

So that leaves me with the question, what is my one passion and how do I articulate it? What is my one passion that will most glorify and magnify God?

"But whatever you do, find the God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated passion of your life, and find your way to say it and live for it and die for it." - Don't Wate You Life pg. 47

Mr. Howee's home

It’s been a bustling week here in Lakeshore. We have several teams here this week working in a number of different homes.

We have begun work on another home this week. It is at the home of Mr. Howee. Mr. Howee is an older gentleman here in Lakeshore who gets around with a wheelchair. He and his wife stayed during the storm and were forced to the attic as the water rose. Their home had obvious water damage as well as other storm damage. There had been a team from another church in town that came to gut it out a while back, but now the house was in need of being rebuilt. We began work on Mr. Howee’s home this past Wednesday and the team from Batesville, MS that was put on it was serious about getting work done. Since they began they have taken the siding off, taken the tin roof off, taken the cabinets out, replaced some beams in the floor, put down plywood for the floor, put in most if not all of the wiring, got the roof ready enough to put singles on (which they have also begun) and getting the back side of the house level.

Mr. Howee's house before.

Mr. Howee's house today

More work has also been done on Ms. Lynn’s home. This week the floor was put down in here living room and kitchen. There was also another door installed.

Edwards Resolutions

I've been reading through John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" and have been challenged and encouraged. In one of the first chapters Piper makes reference to Jonathan Edwards Resolutions by listing just a couple. These resolutions were written by Edwards in his early twenties to "intensify his life for the glory of God." I found for myself what his other resolutions were and as I was reading I was blown away. There are 70 resolutions listed and each one leaves me with something to think about, but then I am challenged to consider, What am I doing to "intensify my life for the glory of God"?. Here's a few of the resolutions to ponder.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.
41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

Is chivalry dead?

I've recently started reading The Rebelution a blog written by Alex and Brett Harris. I have been impressed with knowledge and maturity they display in their writings. Recently they have been writing a series on chivalry, which I have found insightful and helpful. The short video that follows is a (short but cute) example of what these young men have been discussing.

A few pictures

Just a quick update before the library closes and I get kicked out. I got a chance to get around yesterday to see what the groups have been up to this week. Every place I stopped showed much progress. At Ms. Redford’s house they had gotten the floor put in throughout the house.

At Ms. Lambert’s house they had gotten the outside of the trailer painted and protected from the weather.

At Ms. Lynn’s they put a railing around the porch and added steps to the front, making access to the house a bit easier.

Back in Lakeshore

Well I have made in back to Lakeshore. My time in Wisconsin was a lot for fun, but didn’t leave a whole lot of time for rest. Oh well, it was good to be in the company of my family and friends who I hadn’t seen in a while. Though on Wednesday I did get a chance to hide away at the local coffee shop and reflect on a lot of what has taken place in the past few months and think about the coming months.

In the time I did have to myself though I continued my reading through the book of Acts and began a new book by John Piper “Don’t Waste Your Life” I remember reading this book when I first got it a while back, but I had forgotten what most of it was about. Though I haven’t gotten very far, I tried reading on the plane…I get too distracted watching people and looking out the window. But I am enjoying it so far.

good ol' Wisconsin

Mmmmmm....fried cheese curds

A view from the top of the Big M

The World's Largest M...We climb it just for the fun of it.

On Vacation...

This past Thursday I left Mississippi and headed for Wisconsin for a surprise visit/vacation. With a little planning and a few secrets I was able to get from MS to WI and totally surprise my mom by showing up on the front porch as I was talking to her on the phone. I’ve been back here for a few days now and have been running around none stop. But it has been great. I have been able to connect with a bunch of my college friends, drive up to see my sister, and spend some time with the folks at my home church (Rolling Hills Church). While it has been great to be back, to be honest it is a bit different than how I remember. But that, I’m sure, has to do with the fact that time and circumstances changes folks.

Tomorrow I am going to try take some time to get my thoughts together, as there is a lot going round and round in my head. I need to take a little time to sort out the emotions and all the new experiences I have had this summer. There’s just a lot of things there that I have tried to ignore and really need to give to the Lord. And everyone is beginning to ask what comes next, after December. At this point I have no idea, but I intend to spend some time praying about that too.

There are a few highlights so far in my trip though. On Saturday after going to see my sister I wandered up to the “Dairy Days Fair” here in Platteville and got me some fried cheese curds..yum!

A little later that night I met a bunch of people from InterVarsity at the big M. We climbed to the top and worshiped God through song and prayer as we looked over his creation.

...I'll post some pictures later

It's Monday...

It's Labor Day and the teams have gone home, but not without a lot getting accomplished. It's been a productive weekend here in Lakeshore. We had a few teams in this weekend and they tackled Ms. Lynn'’s and Ms. Lambert'’s houses. At Ms. Lynn's house they put up all the sheetrock and mudded the rock too.

At Ms. Lambert's they constructed a roof that went over the top of her trailer. In about 2 days they got it constructed and even got it shingled. They also worked on some of the wiring and began putting up sheetrock. One of the teams also put a new tarp roof on the kitchen here are the church. There has also been a team from Star Baptist Church in Star, MS coming faithfully for the past few weekends. They have been diligently working at Mr. Malcolm'’s house.

To add to the fun, Sunday night Pastor Don, Stephen Ake, Nathan & Courtney White, Joey (a NOBTS student), Daniel, and I went over to Long Beach to see Jars of Clay perform. Pretty sure I had a blast. Not only did I enjoy the concert I enjoyed the fellowship we had while waiting for the concert to start at the trip to and from Long Beach.